It’s hard to believe that 2006 marks BeauSoleil’s 30th year as worldwide ambassadors of Cajun music. What’s even harder to fathom is that out of their sizable discography, which encompasses several live albums, none were ever recorded on native soil — until now, that is. But thanks to BeauSoleil percussionist Billy Ware and Todd Mouton, Director of Louisiana Crossroads, their 30th anniversary can be commemorated with these celebratory live tracks that brim with exuberance and glow with soul.

Culled from various January Louisiana Crossroads performances, these dozen tracks represent the best of the best from those magical evenings. Granted, none of these familiar, career-spanning selections should surprise longtime fans, yet heard here, these first-ever live renditions still sound as fresh and vibrant as they did in the day. Some arrangements (“Chanson d’Acadie,” “Conja”) have evolved dramatically from their original inception, which contributes to the recording’s vitality. Also adding to the verve is the overall sublime playing. Fiddler Michael Doucet often slices incredible, lightening-quick runs (“Le Jig Français”) and musters gale force bowing (“Flammes d’Enfer”) while brother/guitarist David still maintains some of the cleanest flatpicking of any genre.

Yet none of this would be possible without the Cajun-Creole hall of famers that preceded them, who are honored by covers of their material or through thoughtful originals such as “Freeman’s Zydeco” about Freeman Fontenot.

Of interest to jazz zealots is Doucet’s “Bunk’s Blues,” a tale of unrequited love through the eyes of New Orleans trumpeter Bunk Johnson. The arrangement begins in a sweet, sauntering style — accordionist Jimmy Breaux’s phrasing is particularly eloquent — then builds to an emotionally charged, adrenaline-filled rush of a finale.

Obviously, Doucet must have been satisfied with the evening as well. “Man, this is as good as the Spider Lounge,” he quips at the end of “Bye Bye Boozoo,” referring to the funky, real deal Cajun club he played during the ’70s. Since then the web has expanded immensely but its center core remains essentially unaltered.